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Straight from Headquarters
STRAIGHT FROM HEADQUARTERS •••••••••••••••••••••••••••
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by ROBERT P . FISCHELIS~ Secretary AMERICAN PHARMACElJTICAL ASSOCIATION
Health Insurance Plans W
ITH THIS issue of the JOURNAL, we are beginning a series of staff articles dealing with proposals for a national health program. This problem has not reached the poi~t where all political parties, and all professIonal and lay groups having anything to do with medical care, are convinced that some kind of national health program will be established in the very near future. The AMERICAN PHARMACEUTICAL AssoCIATION believes in the ability and intelligence of its members to solve all problems bearing on the practice of pharmacy, if they are in possession of the necessary facts. The articles in this and subsequent issues of THIS JOURNAL are intended to keep our members thoroughly informed of developments in private and public programs for easing the payment for medical and other health services. We have watched the development of compulsory health insurance programs in various European countries and, more recently, we have been made aware of the British program which involves socialization of medical services on a very extensive scale. We believe that it is wise for pharmacists and pharmaceutical organizations in the United States to ~ive careful study to the procedure and irnplications of the systems in effect elsewhere and to give particular attention to the progress that has been made with voluntary health insurance programs in the United States. The first of our series of informative articles on "What's Happening in the Medical Care Field" deals with President Truman's program, various views of the effect of such a program, the Blue Cross-Blue
86
Shield proposals, other voluntary programs and the extent of existing Federal health and medical services. The March issue will carry a review of the British compulsory health program to the extent that information has been made available through pharmaceutical, medical and other sources. At the moment, the Presidenfs compul~ory health insurance program is being held In abeyance pending consideration of programs submitted by the American Medical Association, Senator Taft, and a number of other programs such as that of the Pennsylvania Medical Society. It is clear that American medicine is not united with respect to the position that should be taken by the profession on this question and it is quite certain that when doctors are in disagreement there also will be disagreement among other segments of the health professions with respect to what is best for all concerned. The public hearings on the measures now before Congress and to be introduced by proponents of various plans doubtless will open the. way. to compromises, and the program whICh WIll finally evolve may differ considerably from any of those now proposed. It behooves representatives of pharmacy to keep a clear head and view with an eagle eye the proposals that are under consideration with respect to their effect upon the future of pharmacy.
Our Education Program
IN AN earlier. issue of THIS JOURNAL, we called attentIon to the recommendations of the Pharmaceutical Survey with respect to the future program of education for
PRACTICAL PHARMACY EDITION pharmacists. The Survey recommended continual improvement of the four-year course and projected a six-year program leading to the doctor of pharmacy degree. It did not suggest that this program become compulsory at once, but it expressed the opinion that pharmacists of the future should be trained in cultural fundamentals as well as in the technical aspects of their profession. We are told that the Curriculum Committee of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy has worked out a program which requires preparation for the professional subjects of the pharmacy course that will take at least two years of preliminary education on the college level. If the Curriculum Committee can see no way of outlining a pharmacy course which will require less than six years of study, it is merely emphasizing what medicine and dentistry have long ago determined. The question before the profession of pharmacy today is not only how many years of study are required to turn out a good pharmacist, but how long does it take to educate an individual to become a competent member of the health profession team- in this instance, a pharmacist~ The fact is that medicine and dentistry require anywhere from two to four years of pre-professional education at the college level and if pharmacy is to be placed on the same level as medicine and dentistry, it will have to follow the educational program of these professions, at least to the extent of developing a minimum of pre-professional education. Already some pharmacy ' colleges are requiring a minimum of one year of college preparation for the four-year professional program. The step to two years is perfectly logical and, in accordance with expert opinion on the subject, it is necessary. Let us therefore not talk about a "six-year course in pharmacy" but, rather, about a six-year program of pharmaceutical education which provides for a four-year professional course, based upon adequate pre-professional training. If American pharmacy is to maintain its position among the health professions, it will have to go along with this program. There never was a better time in which to work it out than the present because we have never had so many applicants for admission to the pharmacy course.
87
Charles W. Johnson with keen regret that we learned I TofWAS the death of Dean Emeritus Charles W. Johnson of the State University of Washington. Dean Johnson was a former president of the AMERICAN PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION and left his mark on the progress of pharmacy in many ways. His major work was in the far west and for many years he was looked upon as the leader of American pharmacy in that seotion. Not only was he a splendid educator and one who produced many leading teachers of pharmacy of the present day, but he was also active in the field of drug regulation. For many years he conducted the laboratory for the analysis of foods and drugs for the State of Washington and 'did much work for the Federal Government. He was one of Dr. Wiley's aides in the early days of enforcement of the Food and Drug Act. Unfortunately, he was prevented from active participation in pharmaceutical affairs for many years because of a lingering illness. His great service to the people, through the advancement of pharmacy and through the development of adequate standards for foods and drugs, and the fine influence he exerted on his students and coworkers, constitute his monument.
Theodore Christianson CHRISTIANSON, who in T HEODORE his later years gave much of his time to the National Association of Retail Druggists as editor and director of public relations, was a unique figure in American pharmacy. As a member of his own profession, the law, he rose to unusual heights- having been elected to Congress and several terms as Governor of his native state, Minnesota. Probably no other individual who had occupied such high political office ever applied the same combination of experiences to the problems of pharmacy. He seemed at his best in the joint meetings of the Council of the AMERICAN PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION and the Executive Committee of the N. A. R. D. where on many occasions he clarified issues and phrased resolutions in a manner which placed the viewpoint of pharmacy before the layman in clear and cogent terms. We join with the N. A. R. D. in mourning the loss of one who contribut~d much to the welfare of pharmacy.
)
......
by ROBERT P . FISCHELIS~ Secretary AMERICAN PHARMACElJTICAL ASSOCIATION
Health Insurance Plans W
ITH THIS issue of the JOURNAL, we are beginning a series of staff articles dealing with proposals for a national health program. This problem has not reached the poi~t where all political parties, and all professIonal and lay groups having anything to do with medical care, are convinced that some kind of national health program will be established in the very near future. The AMERICAN PHARMACEUTICAL AssoCIATION believes in the ability and intelligence of its members to solve all problems bearing on the practice of pharmacy, if they are in possession of the necessary facts. The articles in this and subsequent issues of THIS JOURNAL are intended to keep our members thoroughly informed of developments in private and public programs for easing the payment for medical and other health services. We have watched the development of compulsory health insurance programs in various European countries and, more recently, we have been made aware of the British program which involves socialization of medical services on a very extensive scale. We believe that it is wise for pharmacists and pharmaceutical organizations in the United States to ~ive careful study to the procedure and irnplications of the systems in effect elsewhere and to give particular attention to the progress that has been made with voluntary health insurance programs in the United States. The first of our series of informative articles on "What's Happening in the Medical Care Field" deals with President Truman's program, various views of the effect of such a program, the Blue Cross-Blue
86
Shield proposals, other voluntary programs and the extent of existing Federal health and medical services. The March issue will carry a review of the British compulsory health program to the extent that information has been made available through pharmaceutical, medical and other sources. At the moment, the Presidenfs compul~ory health insurance program is being held In abeyance pending consideration of programs submitted by the American Medical Association, Senator Taft, and a number of other programs such as that of the Pennsylvania Medical Society. It is clear that American medicine is not united with respect to the position that should be taken by the profession on this question and it is quite certain that when doctors are in disagreement there also will be disagreement among other segments of the health professions with respect to what is best for all concerned. The public hearings on the measures now before Congress and to be introduced by proponents of various plans doubtless will open the. way. to compromises, and the program whICh WIll finally evolve may differ considerably from any of those now proposed. It behooves representatives of pharmacy to keep a clear head and view with an eagle eye the proposals that are under consideration with respect to their effect upon the future of pharmacy.
Our Education Program
IN AN earlier. issue of THIS JOURNAL, we called attentIon to the recommendations of the Pharmaceutical Survey with respect to the future program of education for
PRACTICAL PHARMACY EDITION pharmacists. The Survey recommended continual improvement of the four-year course and projected a six-year program leading to the doctor of pharmacy degree. It did not suggest that this program become compulsory at once, but it expressed the opinion that pharmacists of the future should be trained in cultural fundamentals as well as in the technical aspects of their profession. We are told that the Curriculum Committee of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy has worked out a program which requires preparation for the professional subjects of the pharmacy course that will take at least two years of preliminary education on the college level. If the Curriculum Committee can see no way of outlining a pharmacy course which will require less than six years of study, it is merely emphasizing what medicine and dentistry have long ago determined. The question before the profession of pharmacy today is not only how many years of study are required to turn out a good pharmacist, but how long does it take to educate an individual to become a competent member of the health profession team- in this instance, a pharmacist~ The fact is that medicine and dentistry require anywhere from two to four years of pre-professional education at the college level and if pharmacy is to be placed on the same level as medicine and dentistry, it will have to follow the educational program of these professions, at least to the extent of developing a minimum of pre-professional education. Already some pharmacy ' colleges are requiring a minimum of one year of college preparation for the four-year professional program. The step to two years is perfectly logical and, in accordance with expert opinion on the subject, it is necessary. Let us therefore not talk about a "six-year course in pharmacy" but, rather, about a six-year program of pharmaceutical education which provides for a four-year professional course, based upon adequate pre-professional training. If American pharmacy is to maintain its position among the health professions, it will have to go along with this program. There never was a better time in which to work it out than the present because we have never had so many applicants for admission to the pharmacy course.
87
Charles W. Johnson with keen regret that we learned I TofWAS the death of Dean Emeritus Charles W. Johnson of the State University of Washington. Dean Johnson was a former president of the AMERICAN PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION and left his mark on the progress of pharmacy in many ways. His major work was in the far west and for many years he was looked upon as the leader of American pharmacy in that seotion. Not only was he a splendid educator and one who produced many leading teachers of pharmacy of the present day, but he was also active in the field of drug regulation. For many years he conducted the laboratory for the analysis of foods and drugs for the State of Washington and 'did much work for the Federal Government. He was one of Dr. Wiley's aides in the early days of enforcement of the Food and Drug Act. Unfortunately, he was prevented from active participation in pharmaceutical affairs for many years because of a lingering illness. His great service to the people, through the advancement of pharmacy and through the development of adequate standards for foods and drugs, and the fine influence he exerted on his students and coworkers, constitute his monument.
Theodore Christianson CHRISTIANSON, who in T HEODORE his later years gave much of his time to the National Association of Retail Druggists as editor and director of public relations, was a unique figure in American pharmacy. As a member of his own profession, the law, he rose to unusual heights- having been elected to Congress and several terms as Governor of his native state, Minnesota. Probably no other individual who had occupied such high political office ever applied the same combination of experiences to the problems of pharmacy. He seemed at his best in the joint meetings of the Council of the AMERICAN PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION and the Executive Committee of the N. A. R. D. where on many occasions he clarified issues and phrased resolutions in a manner which placed the viewpoint of pharmacy before the layman in clear and cogent terms. We join with the N. A. R. D. in mourning the loss of one who contribut~d much to the welfare of pharmacy.